Ok, makes no sense. I'll try again. Iowawhitetails is from Iowa. Out of state deer tag is 540 bucks. Maybe everyone is nidging him cause he has a deer tag there and the rest have to pay 540 for a tag he gets for 30 bucks. Funny thing is he can't use his new rifle in Iowa. It's a shotgun only state. Many out west don't know that I guess. Now, if I need a new magnum for 500 yd shots for under 800 bucks I'd go to Cabelas, there are used Magnums all over the shelves there that have never been shot and Redfield Revolutions are nice scopes for 190 bucks. The mag craze is over so they are on the used shelves. As for 500 yd shots I could never do it. About 12"-16" groups is the best I could do with my .270 win. 7600 pump. Some guys can shoot long ranges from experience but never was good enough so be ready to do some shooting.

I did more than think about it. I tried it. Shot some elk at long range, and decided I had more fun trying to get close. Plus, I enjoy being in the dark timber.


The one exception is coyote hunting. I shoot them at long range, but all my big game will be up close.

Pick what you like, and go fill the freezer. No reason to have to defend how you hunt, and if someone else doesn't like it? So what? It's not that important.

May want to re-read the OP, he wants a toy, and something to take out west if or when he goes elk hunting. For that, a slug gun isn't the ideal gun. Something else, I thought Iowa changed the rules for resident hunters, and allow rifles for certain areas now. Perhaps the OP can elaborate more. I don't see those of us living out west fussing about $540 for a whitetail tag. We get elk tags here for something in the $40 range, and even the nonresident tag is a little less the what Iowa thinks their whitetail are worth. So I dont see envy there,lol. From my own experience, I never had alot of luck with accuracy with the 7600 pump. Good glass, plenty of practice, and a decent gun goes a long ways for long range shooting. If you're the kind who shoots 10 rounds a year, its not for you. You need to know your gun, know your ammo, better then your wife.

The 7600 pump was never designed for long range accuracy. Well not past about 200 yrds., if that.
For long range, it would seem preferable to use a bolt action or single shot rifle.

I agree with muley hunter,i agree!!

I use a Winchester Model 70 in a 30-06. I shoot Federal Premiums with a Barnes TSX 180gr bullet. Finally I have it topped with a Swarovski 4-12x50.

I don't think your $1k limit is enough for a gun and quality optics.

I hunt Colorado and we have killed 10 elk in the past 7 years. My bull this year was the furthest we have taken an elk at 176 yards. Most have been under 100 yards with the closest being 25 yards.

Don't get a magnum, its not needed and you will flinch yourself off the target.

Best of luck . . . Rob

This can hold true with about any centerfire rifle. It doesn't have to even be a magnum. With a good recoil pad, and some basic shooting skills, a flinch will not happen. My wife shoots both a 7mm Rem mag, and a 300 win mag, with no flinch. I shoot a 300RUM, 375H&H, and no flinch. The one gun I have that would be most likely to give someone a flinch, isn't even a magnum. A 45/70 lever gun, loaded to lever gun levels is one fierce kicking gun. So that old phrase about magnums is as much hype as saying a 308 is horribly inaccurate, but an '06 is magical.

It's alligators in Florida. crocs live in Africa... Different continent... But u can take ur 300 over there for plains game.... Just saying...

I shoot a .300 win mag and feel quite confident out to 300 yards, but don't have anywhere to hunt where that is an option.

my answer would be Thompson center omega 50vcal...but u said u shoot CVA...omega is great for knock down power and distance..plus built for precision/competition shooting...light trigger. really nice weapon if u like muzzleloaders,,,personally love mine..

Not true. Your two examples are hardly representative of the 40 million hunters in the US. I know at least 10 hunters who had to back to smaller calibers, because they started to develop a flinch from magnums.

Magnums aren't needed. If you can't kill with a 30-06. You're doing something wrong.